NEWEA Gives Leominster Facility Environmental Safety Honor

Leominster’s wastewater treatment plant, which is managed by Veolia Water North America, received the George W. Burke Jr. Award.

Feb 05, 2011

The New England Water Environment Association, a member of the Water Environment Federation, has recognized the Leominster, Mass., wastewater treatment plant for its safety program with the presentation of the George W. Burke Jr. Award. Employees received the award at the annual conference of the New England Water Environment Association, held in Boston recently.

WEF’s George W. Burke, Jr. Award is presented annually with the purpose of encouraging an active and effective safety program in both municipal and industrial wastewater facilities. Leominster’s safety program includes monthly training, an emphasis on accountability, and strong project management leadership, backed by a longstanding record of safety. The plant also won the award in 1998.

Veolia Water North America has managed the facility since 1983, when the city entered into a public-private partnership for its wastewater treatment. The partnership recently marked more than 25 years without a lost-time accident, a safety milestone that only a few North American municipal water facilities have achieved. According to the most current data available from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, Veolia Water is approximately 37 percent better than the industry average for Recordable Incidence Rate and 67 percent better than the industry Lost-Time Incident Rate.

“Veolia Water North America is committed to the technically competent employees that are at the heart of providing clean water services for Americans,” said Nelson. “The employees of Leominster live that every day, and we can’t think of a more deserving winner of this prestigious safety award.”

Based in Chicago, Veolia Water North America is the leading provider of comprehensive water and wastewater partnership services to municipal and industrial customers, providing services to more than 14 million people in approximately 650 North American communities.